A man has been jailed for racially abusing passengers on a train to Preston.

Darren Ingham, 47 from Salford, pleaded guilty to breaching his ASBO by racially abusing two Asian men and then threatening a female passenger who stepped in to defend them.

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The court heard Mr Ingham was travelling to Preston from Blackpool South on January 6 when he began verbally abusing the two men who were in the same carriage.

He was spotted by a concerned female passenger flailing his arms, making reference to terrorists and bombs and asking the men for a fight.

The woman switched seats to sit with the men Mr Ingham directed his ‘torrent of abuse’ towards her, threatening that ’his mates would be waiting for her when she got off the train’ and that she would be ‘dragged along the tracks’ before mimicking firing a gun at her.

He was identified to British Transport Police and arrested at Preston. A small amount of cannabis resin was found in his pocket.

He was jailed for 20 weeks on February 15 for breaching his ASBO and cannabis possession. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115.

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Inspector Neil Hubbs said: “Ingham’s vile racist abuse was considered so serious and his comments so appalling that Magistrates were left with no other choice than to hand down a custodial sentence.

“This should serve as a lesson to likeminded individuals who believe they can vent their ignorant and hate-filled views freely in public, that racist abuse like this will never be tolerated on the rail network.

“We will do everything in our power to ensure they are brought before the courts.

“Special mention should be given to the bravery of the lone female passenger who was so disgusted by Ingham’s behaviour that she stepped in and whose subsequent evidence helped bring him to justice.”